As required by 5 U.S.C., the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) issued a report entitled, “Employee Perceptions of Federal Workplace Violence.” The report analyzed data from a 2010 MSPB survey, questioning federal employees on their perceptions of violence in their work environment. The survey found that thirteen percent of federal workers witnessed violence in the workplace between 2009 and 2010. In her opening letter to the President and leaders of the House and Senate, MSPB Chairman Susan Tsui Grundmann stated, “Workplace violence can result in a number of direct costs to organizations and can affect employee productivity and morale, which violates the merit system principle of the efficient and effective use of the federal workforce.”

The study saw incidents of violence in the workplace varied from bullying, harassment, threats of attack, and physical attacks. The study surveyed over 70,000 full-time, non-postal federal employees, and had a response rate of 58 percent. The survey found that the highest rates of violence were seen by employees who were in police/security and medical/hospital occupations. Additionally, violence in the workplace was more often committed by a current or former employee than an outside perpetrator. However, seventy-three percent of respondents stated they believe their agencies take the necessary steps to ensure their safety, including strategies targeting internal and external sources of workplace violence. The MSPB found these strategies need to be strengthened to further ensure workers’ safety as well as promote an organizational culture that does not tolerate aggressive and violent behavior.

From the data collected through the survey, MSPB concluded there needs to be a continued effort from federal workplace leaders in promoting a safe environment. The report recommended that federal agencies “establish formal workplace violence programs that outline organizational responsibilities with respect to preventing workplace violence and responding to it when it does occur.” Additionally, programs and prevention efforts should be geared toward agencies’ individual workplace needs based upon “geographical location, mission, occupational mix, and customer base.” The report called upon federal managers to provide training to employees on workplace violence that includes organizations’ policies, procedures, and programs. MSPB concluded, “Improvements in federal workplace violence prevention programs may result in a more efficient and effective federal workforce.”

For more information on MSPB, please visit: www.mspb.gov.